Tape dispenser



E. WALTZ TAPE DISPENSER April 6, 1965 2 Sheets-Shes I 1 Filed Dec. 14,, 1962 JINVENTOR. EDWARD WW. rz

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. A TZTOENEYS April 9 5 E. WALTZ 3,176,892

TAPE DISPENSER Filed Dec. 14, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. fan/A20 Wnuz BY 7 41W KQMW ATrom/E ys United States Patent O 3,176,892 TAPE DISPENSER Edward Waltz, Grand Rapids, Mich, assignor to E. 0. Bulman Manufacturing Company, Inc., Grand Rapids, Mich a corporation of Michigan Filed Dec. 14, 1962, Ser. No. 244,695 Claims. (Cl. 22566) This invention relates in general to a device for supporting and dispensing severable strip material from a roll thereof and, more particularly, to a type of said device capable of supporting a roll of adhesive tape and of severing a piece of said tape from the roll thereof.

Many devices have been developed for dispensing adhesive tape and a substantial number of these dispensers have received widespread commercial usage. However, the commercial acceptance of such dispensers has often been the result of the need for such dispensers. That is, many of the widely used adhesive tape dispensers, particularly of the type to be used to apply and then sever the tape, are expensive, inconvenient to use, heavy in weight, difficult to refill, or difiicult to maintain.

On the other hand, in view of the foregoing problems which are frequently encountered in using existing tape dispensers, some types of tape are still applied from the roll thereof by hand without the use of any dispenser.

Accordingly, there is a pressing need not only for a dispenser which is capable of overcoming the above-mentioned problems, but also capable of dispensing certain types of adhesive tapes for which there is no suitable or existing dispenser.

For convenience in discussing the dispenser of the invention, reference is made for illustrative purposes to the type of adhesive tape which is used in spray painting operations to mask areas upon which no paint is desired. However, this specific reference is made only because the invention developed out of a problem which was encountered in this particular field. More specifically, the applicant was unable to locate any dispenser capable of dispensing satisfactorily this type of tape particularly where the axial dimension of the tape exceeded an inch or two.

Therefore, the objects of this invention include the provision of:

(1) A dispenser capable of supporting a roll of severable, strip material and of severing a piece of said tape from the roll thereof;

(2) A dispenser wherein the roll of tape is movable by the operator toward and away from the cutting device used to sever a piece of said tape from the roll;

(3) A dispenser capable of dispensing relatively wide tapes, as in excess of one inch wide;

(4) A dispenser which is of relatively simple form, which has a minimum of parts, which may be produced with widely available, relatively simple tools in only a few steps, and which is therefore inexpensive to manufacture;

(5) A dispenser of the aforementioned type which is light in weight, convenient to use, easily held in the users hand, and is easily and quickly refillable; and

(6) A dispenser of the aforementioned type which is sturdily constructed, which will require little or no maintenance in use, and which will have a long, useful life.

Other objects and purposes of this invention will become apparent to persons familiar with this type of equipment upon reading the following descriptive material aud examining the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a broken oblique view of a tape dispenser embodying the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken on the line IIII in FIGURE 1.

3,175,892 Patented Apr. 6, 1965 'ice FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken along the line III-III in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is an oblique view of a fragment of an alternate roll support for the dispenser of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is an oblique view of an alternate form of a dispenser embodying the invention.

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken on the line VI-VI in FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view taken on the line VII- VII in FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 8 is a broken top plan view of a second alternate form of a dispenser embodying the invention.

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary side view of FIGURE 8 as viewed from the cutting line IX-IX in FIGURE 8.

FIGURE 10 is a sectional view taken on the line X--X in FIGURE 8.

For convenience in description, the terms upper, lower and words of similar import will have reference to the structure of the invention and parts associated therewith as appearing in FIIGURES 1, 5 and 8. The terms front, rear and derivatives thereof will have reference to the blade end and handle end, respectively, of the dispensers appearing in FIGURES 1, 5 and 8. The terms inner, outer" and derivatives thereof will have reference to the geometric center of said dispensers and parts associated therewith.

General description The objects and purposes of the invention, including those set forth above, have been met by providing a dispenser having a handle connected to a pair of spaced, preferably parallel arms which in turn are connected at points spaced from said handle to a cutting device extending therebetween. A roll support is connected between the two arms and is preferably spaced from and parallel with the cutting device. A roll of tape is rotatably supported on said roll support so that the free end of the tape can be led past the cutting edge of said cutting device. The roll support is movable along said arms whereby the roll of tape may be held adjacent the cutting device.

When a desired strip of tape has been pulled off the roll, it may be severed from the roll by manually holding the roll with the thumb of the hand that supports the dis penser and then pulling the strip across the cutting device.

Detailed construction Turning now to the preferred embodiment of the invention shown in FIGURES 1 through 3, the dispenser 10 (FIGURE 1) is arranged for dispensing tape 6 from a roll 4 which may be of the type wound on a cylindrical core 7 and having a free end 8. The tape 6 is here shown for purposes of illustration to be coated on its radially inner face near one side edge thereof with an adhesive material 9.

The dispenser 10 includes a frame 5 having a handle 11 which is formed of a pair of rods 12 and 13 and which is preferably substantially rigid. The rods 12 and 13 are disposed in spaced, preferably parallel relationship and are bent toward each other near their rearward ends, said ends being joined by any convenient means such as a welded butt joint 14. The rods 12 and 13 are connected to and are preferably integral extensions of a pair of outwardly extending and substantially coaxial arms 21 and 22. Said arms are in turn connected to and are preferably integral with a pair of forwardly extending, spaced and preferably parallel legs 18 and 19.

The forwardly extending legs 18 and 19 are preferably integral at their fonwardmost ends with a cutter bar 23 (FIGURE 3) which is preferably perpendicular to said legs. The cutter bar 23 has an elongated cross section which is preferably tapered frontwardly and downwardly from the plane defined by the legs 18 and 19.

, 3 I Thus, the cutter bar 23 has a downwardly and frontwardly facing edge 24 which may be serrated for cutting the tape 6. It will be recognized, however, that other types of cutting edges may be used in place of the serrations 24 if desired.

The frame 5, which includes the handle 11 (FIGURE 1), the arms 21 and 22, the legs 18 and 19 and the cutter bar 23, may be shaped from a single, elongated piece of wire-form material, such'as wire rod.

A roll support 27 which consists of a sheet of relatively rigid material, such as sheet metal or a suitable plastic,

connects and rests upon the frontwardly extending legs 18 and 19. The roll support 27 has at its leftward end a rolled hinge 28 which rotatably and slidably grips the leg 1-8. The support 27 has on its rightward end a downwardly extending, S-shaped flange 29, for releasably gripping the leg 19. The flange 29 is shaped so that it resists disengagement from the leg 19 but does not materially resist movement-of the support 27 along the legs 18 and 19.

The support member 27 has on its rearward and frontward edges a pair of downwardly extending, and inwardly curving flanges 31 and 32, respectively, the outer surfaces of which are convex and are preferably spaced from each other a distance slightly less than the inside diameter of the core 7 of the roll 4. The roll 4, when placed on the roll support 27, is thus capable of rotating but is limited in any other type of motion with respect to said support 27.

Operation The roll of tape 4 is placed on the dispenser 10, as shown in FIGURES 1 through 3, by disengaging the flange 29 from the leg 19 and pivoting the support 27 into its broken line position of 27a in FIGURE 2. The core 7 of the roll 4 is sleeved upon the support 27, after which the support 27 is returned to its solid line position of FIGURE 2. A desired length of tape may now be dispensed.

The operator grips the handle 11 of the dispenser in one hand and grips the free end 8 of the tape 6 in the other hand and draws the free end 8 away from the roll 4 until the desired length of tape has been moved away from the roll 4. The operator then places the thumb T of the hand holding the handle 11 against the roll 4 whereby said roll is moved against the cutter bar 23, whereby further rotation of said roll is opposed. The tape is then moved upwardly so that it engages the serrated edge 24 of the cutter bar 23 whereby the edge 24 cuts the tape.

The tape 6 may be dispensed'from the roll 4 by pressa ing the end 8 of the tape against a surface and then movthe loading steps, another roll of tape can be mounted on the dispenser.

Alternate structures FIGURE 4 discloses an alternate roll support 40 for use in place of the roll support 27' on the dispenser 16 shown in FIGURES 1 through 3. The modified roll support 40 consists of a pair of spaced, essentially parallel rods 41 and 42, which may be bent slightlyv toward each other in the middle sections thereof and which may be constructed from the type of rod used in the frame 5.

The leftward ends 43 and 44 of the rods 41 and 42, respectively, are bent downwardly and inwardly to form curved end portions that are connected to each other at their inner ends by a cross bar 46. The end portions 43 and 44 are preferably curved through more than 180 degrees and less than 360 degrees, whereby they rotatably and slidably engage the leg 18a.

I At their rightward ends, the rods 4-1 and 42 have downwardly curved, S-shaped end portions 47 and 48,

respectively, which are connected at their lower ends by a cross bar 49. The end portions 47 and 48 releasably engage, and are slidable along, the leg 19a. The operation of the modified roll support 40 is essentially the same as that of the roll support 27, so that a discussion of its operation is believed to be unnecessary.

FIGURES 5 through 7 disclose an alternate tape dispenser 50 which embodies the invention and which is capable of dispensing a roll 4a of tape 6a similar to that shown in FIGURE 1.

The alternate dispenser 56 includes a frame 55 having a rearwardly extending handle 51 which consists of a pair of spaced and essentially parallel rods 52 and 53 which are connected at their rearward ends to a cross rod 54. The forward end portions 56 and 57 of the rods 5'2 and 5'3, respectively, are bent'toward each other and joined by any convenient means, such as welding, at

their inner ends. The rod portions 56 and 57 are joined 7 at their inner ends to outwardly extending, coaxial arms 61 and 62, respectively, which in turn are connected at their outer ends to forwardly extending spaced and preferably parallel legs 58. 59. The legs 58 and 59 (FIG- URE 6) preferably have vertically elongated, oval cross sections throughout the midportions of their lengths for purposes appearing hereinafter. The legs 58 and 59 are connected at their forward ends to upstanding parallel arms 63 and 64, respectively, which have rearwardly extending and substantially parallel end portions 66 and 67, respectively. The fingers 66 and 67 have serrations 65 in the outwardly facing sides thereof for purposes appearing hereinafter. The frame 55, which includes the elements 52, 53, 54, 56 to 59, 61 to 64, 66 and 67, inclusive, is preferably fabricated from a single piece of wire-form material, such as wire rod.

A cutting bar 68 has holes 70 near the opposite ends thereof, through which the rearwardly extending portions 66 and 67 are removably receivable, and a downwardly extending cutting edge 69. The cutting bar 68 is preferably arranged and constructed so that its cutting edge is located adjacent the upper surface of the legs 58 and 59. The serrations 65 engage the bar 68 around the holes 70 therein to prevent accidental disengagement of the bar 68 from the end portions 66 and 67.

I legs. The cup-shaped roll supports 71 and 72 preferably increase slightly in diameter outwardly from the center of the dispenser so that they are loosely received into the opposite ends of the core 7a of the tape roll 4a. When the tape roll 4a is mounted upon the cup-shaped roll'supports 71 and 72, it is restrained from axial movement by the presence of the legs 58 and 59.

The roll 4a is. mounted on the roll supports 71 and 72 by first removing the bar 63, then spreading the legs 58 and 59, and finally inserting the roll supports 71 and '72 into the opposite ends of the core 7a. Thereafter, the bar 68 is returned to position upon the portions 66 and 67 by springing'them slightly toward each other.

Tape is removed and separated from the roll '76 in essentially the same way as was discussed above in connection with the dispenser 10 (FIGURES 1, 2 and 3).

To remove a used roll 4a from the dispenser 50, the upstanding portions 63 and64 are pressed toward each other, whereby the bar 68 may be removed therefrom. The arms 63 and 64 are then moved away from each other suificiently to allow the roll support cups 71 and 72 to disengage the core 7a. It will be noted that this outward movement of the arms 63 and 64 tends to spring the legs 58 and 59 outwardly. Thus, the resultant outward set in the legs 58 and 59 tends to hold the bar 68 in place when it is returned to its position upon the arms 63 and 64. A new roll 4a may be placed in the dispenser Si! by repeating the steps outlined above.

FIGURES 8 through 10, inclusive, disclose a second alternate dispenser 86, which is adapted for dispensing relatively narrow tape from a roll having a relatively large diameter. The dispenser 80 has a frame '79 including a rearwardly extending handle 81 consisting of a pair of spaced and preferably parallel rods 82 and 83 having at their rearward ends, inwardly extending end portions 84 and 85, respectively, which are coaxial with and abut each other. A coaxial, cylindrical collar 86 is preferably fixed to one of said portions, as the portion 84, and slidably receives the other of said end portions 85 for maintaining radial alignment and a releasable connection of said end portions with respect to each other.

At their forward ends, the rods 82 and 83 have inwardly extending, preferably integral and parallel arms 87 and 87a, respectively. The other ends of said arms 87 and 87:: are connected to the rearward ends of the spaced and coplanar parallel legs 89 and 88, respectively, which legs are essentially Within the plane defined by the rods 82 and 83. The legs 88 and 89 are approximately in alignment with the respective rods 82 and 83.

The legs 88 and 89 each have near their midportions substantially S-shaped bends, such as the bend 90 shown in FIGURE 9, which bends lie in vertical planes for purposes appearing hereinafter.

The legs 88 and 89 have, at their forward ends, up standing portions 91 and 92, the upper ends of which are connected to the opposite ends of a cross bar 93. The elements 82 to 85, and 87 to 93, inclusive, which are included in the frame 79, are preferably fabricated from a single piece of rod-form material, such as wire rod.

A knife 94 (FIGURE is affixed to the front side of cross bar 93, as by welding, so that its cutting edge 95 extends downwardly and slightly rearwardly between the upstanding portions 91 and 92 of the legs 33 and 89, respectively.

A pair of shallow, cup-shaped roll supports 96 and 97 (FIGURES 8 and 9) are mounted respectively upon the legs 88 and 89 near the midportions thereof so that they open away from each other. Said roll supports each have a pair of diametrically opposed holes through the radial walls thereof, as illustrated by the holes 191 and 102 in the roll support 97 (FIGURE 9), for receiving therethrough their respective legs. The S-shaped portion 90 on the leg 89 and the corresponding S-shaped portion on the leg 38 engage the end walls of the roll supports 96 and 97 and thereby oppose their rotation about said legs, but permit a relatively large amount of movement of said roll supports 96 and 97 along said legs. The roll supports 96 and 97 extend into the core of the roll 99, and the roll 99 is held thereon for rotation with respect thereto.

Dispensing of the tape from the roll 99 is accomplished in essentially the same manner as described above in connection with the dispensers of FIGURES 4 and 5. It should be noted, however, that the slight rearward angling of the knife bar 94 allows the tape to be perpendicular thereto when cut thereby. Thus, the cutting action may be somewhat more efiicient than it would be if the cutting edge 95 were at some other angular position with respect to the frame '79.

Placement of a new roll 99 upon the tape dispenser St) is easily accomplished by moving the rods 82 and S3 of the handle 31 away from each other, whereby the end portion 85 is released from the collar 86. The portions 84 and 85 are then moved radially with respect to each other so that the rods $2 and 33 can be moved toward each other, whereby the legs 88 and 89 are moved away from each other. Thus, the supports 96 and 97 are thereby disengaged from the core 98 so that they can engage 6. the core in a new roll of tape. The reassembly of the dispenser 8b is accomplished by reversal of these steps.

Although particular, preferred embodiments of theinvention have been disclosed above for illustrative pur poses, it will be recognized that variations or modifications of such disclosure, which lie within the scope of the appended claims, are fully contemplated.

What is claimed is:

l. A device for supporting a roll of strip material having an adhesive on one side thereof, and for severing a piece of the strip material from the roll thereof, said roll having a coaxial opening therein, comprising:

a pair of substantially straight and parallel side elements spaced from each other a distance slightly greater than the width of the strip material, said side elements being slightly longer than the initial diameter of said roll;

an elongated cutting member connected near its opposite ends to, and extending between, said side elements adjacent the front ends thereof, said cutting member being substantially perpendicular to said side elements and having a cutting edge parallel with and adjacent to the plane defined by said side elements;

elongated handle means including a pair of spaced and substantially parallel handle elements substantially disposed within said plane and extending beyond the rear ends of said side elements a distance substantially greater than the distance between said handle elements, said handle elements being substantially parallel with said side elements;

first connecting means extending between the rear ends of said handle elements;

second connecting means rigidly secured to and extending between the front ends of said handle elements and the rear ends of said side elements, said first and second connecting means lying substantially Within said plane; and

mounting means slidably supported upon said side elements for engaging the portion of a roll of strip material adjacent said opening therein, and supporting said roll for rotation around an axis parallel with said cutting member and substantially within a plane defined by said side elements, said mounting means being movable with said roll toward and away from said cutting member in a direction diametrically of said roll, so that the peripheral surface of said roll at one end of said diameter can be constantly urged into a position closely adjacent said cutting member, said mounting means being engaged with said side elements at points spaced lengthwise thereof, whereby the parallel relationship of said axis and said cutting edge is positively maintained.

2. A device for supporting a roll of strip material having an adhesive on one side thereof, and for severing a piece of the strip material from the roll thereof, said roll having a coaxial opening therein, comprising:

a pair of substantially parallel side elements spaced from each other a distance slightly greater than the width of the strip material, said side elements being slightly longer than the initial diameter of said roll;

an elongated cutting member connected near its opposite ends to, and extending between, said side elements adjacent the front ends thereof, said cutting member being substantially perpendicular to said side elements and having a cutting edge parallel with and adjacent to the plane defined by said side elements, said cutting member having a downwardly and frontwardly tapered cross section terminating in said cutting edge;

elongated handle means including a pair of spaced and substantially parallel handle elements substantially disposed within said plane and extending beyond the rear ends of said side elements, said handle elements being substantially parallel with said side elements;

arran e 7 first connecting means extending between the rear ends of said handle elements; second connecting means rigidly secured to and extending between the front ends of said handle elerod means at the other end of said rectangle being bent to form clamp means engageable with the other :side element, whereby said rod means is releasably held parallel with and closely adjacent said plane, said IQd means being movable around said first side ele- 8 ment into a position substantially perpendicular to said plane, said rod means being movable with said roll toward and away from said cutting member so that said roll can be constantly urged into a position ments and the rear ends of said side elements, said adjacent said cutting member. first and second connecting means lying substantially 4. A device for supporting a roll of strip material within said plane, said side elements, said cutting having an adhesive on one side thereof, and for severing member, said handle elements and said first and seca piece of the strip material from the roll thereof, said ond connecting means being integral parts of a single 7 roll having a coaxial opening therein, comprising: rod member having its end portions secured to- 10 a pair of substantially straight and parallel side elegether and included in said first connecting elements; ments spaced from each other a distance slightly greater than the width of the strip material, said a substantially rectangular, elongated and rigid plate side elements being slightly longer than the initial having hinge means at one end thereof slideably diameter of said roll and having out-of-round central and rotatably supported upon one of said side eleportions; ments, and flange means at the other end of said plate an elongated, fiat cuttingblade extending between said being engageable with the other sideelement for reside elements adjacent the front ends thereof, said leaseably holding said plate substantially within said blade being substantially perpendicular to said side plane and parallel with said cutting member, said elements and having a cutting edge parallel with and plate being slideably receivable through said co- 2 adjacent to the plane defined by said side elements, axial opening for supporting said roll for rotation said blade having a pair of openings therethrough around an axis parallel with said cutting member, near the opposite ends thereof for snug slideable resaid plate being movable around said one side e-leception of said side elements; ment into a position substantially perpendicular to elongated handle means including a pairof spaced and said plane, and said plate having integral edge flanges substantially parallel handle elements substantially extending along the lengthwise edges thereof, said disposed within said plane and extending beyond the plate being movable with said roll toward and away rear ends of said side elements, said handle elements from said cutting members so that said roll can be being substantially parallel with said side elements; constantly urged into a position adjacent said cutting first connecting means extending between the rear ends member. of said handle elements;

3. A device for supporting a roll of strip material havsecond connecting means rigidly secured to and exing an adhesive on one side thereof, and for severing a tending between the front ends of said handle elepiece of the strip material from the roll thereof, said roll ments and the rear ends of said side elements, said having a coaxial opening therein, comprising: first and second connecting means lying substantially a pair of substantially parallel side elements spaced within said plane, said side elements, said handle elefrom each other a distance slightly greater than the ments, and said first and second connecting means Width of the strip material, said side elements being being integral parts of a single rod member having slightly longer than the initial diameter of said roll; its end portions connected to the cutting blade near an elongated cutting member connected near its opits opposite ends, said end portions of said rod memposite ends to, and extending between, said side eleher being bent to provide similar, L-shaped supports 'r'nents adjacent the front ends thereof, said cutting having first legs substantially perpendicular to said member being substantially perpendicular to said plane and second legs substantially parallel with and side elements and having a cutting edge parallel with spaced from said plane, said second legs extending and adjacent to the plane defined by said side elethrough the openings in said blade and toward said ments, said cutting member having a downwardly handle means; and and frontwardly tapered cross section terminating in a pair of cup-shaped members having radial walls slidesaid cutting edge; ably receivable into the opposite ends of the coaxial elongated handle means including a pair of spaced and opening in the roll of strip material, the radial wall substantially parallel handle elements substantially of each cup-shaped member having a pair of diametdisposed within said plane and extending beyond the 0 rically opposed, out-of-round openings through which rear ends of said side elements, said handle elements one of said out-of-round central portions of said being substantially parallel with said side elements; side elements is slideably and non-rotatably received, first connecting means extending between the rear ends said roll being supported upon and between said cupof said handle elements; shaped members for rotation around an axis parallel second connecting means rigidly secured to and exwith the cutting edge of said cutting blade, said Cup tending between the front ends of said handle eleshaped members being movable with said roll toments and the rear ends of said side elements, said ward and away from said cutting blade so that said first and second connecting means lying substantially roll can be constantly urged into a position adjacent within said plane, said side elements, said cutting said cutting blade. member, said handle elements and said first and SeC- {7.1) 5. A device for supporting a roll of strip material havd connecting means being 'p of a Single ing an adhesive on one side'thereof, and for severing a lod'membef having its d Portions Secured together piece of the strip material from the roll thereof, said roll andincluded in said first connecting elements; and having a coaxial opening therein, Comprising;

Tod means Substantlany arranged s q i a pair of substantially parallel side elements spaced tangle x i through the 'P m Sald i from each other a distance slightly greater than the Q for suppoltmg .Sald i far rotatlon arounfl an axis width of the strip material, said side elements being parallel wlth Said cumng m the of the slightly longer than the initial diameter of said roll; rod means at.one end of Sald rectangle benig bent an elongated cutting member connected near its oppoto form a hinge member rotatably and slideably w d d t b t I engaging said'one side element, the portion of said She an s an ex an mg 6 ween Sal 51 e e ments adjacent to the front ends thereof, said cutting member having a part offset slightly from said plane and including a blade rigidly secured to said part, said blade having a cutting edge extending substantially perpendicular to said side elements between snraeea 9 the adjacent ends thereof and parallel with and adjacent to the plane defined by said side elements;

an elongated handle means including a pair of spaced and substantially parallel handle elements substantially disposed within said plane and extending beyond the rear ends of said side elements, said handle elements being substantially parallel with said side elements, one handle element being an oltset extension of one side element and the other handle element being an offset extension of the other side element;

first connecting means extending between the rear ends of said handle elements;

second connecting means rigidly secured to and extending between the front ends of said handle elements and the rear ends of said side elements, said first and second connecting means lying substantially within said plane, said side elements, said part of said cutting member, said handle elements and said first and second connecting means being integral parts of a single rod member having end portions in said first connecting means, said first connecting means in cluding a sleeve rigidly secured to one end portion of the rod member for snug, slideable and removable reception of the other end portion of the rod memher; and

a pair of cup-shaped members having radial walls slideably receivable into the opposite ends of the coaxial opening in the roll of strip material for supporting said roll for rotation around an axis parallel with the cutting edge of said blade, each radial wall having diametrically opposed openings through which one of said side elements is slideably receivable, each side element having a central portion offset in a direction substantially perpendicular to said plane for engagement with the cup-shaped member to oppose rotation thereof around its side element, said cupshaped members being movable with said roll toward and away from said cutting member so that said roll can be constantly urged into a position adjacent said blade.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,537,147 1/51 Marinsky 225-59 XR FOREIGN PATENTS 13,599 10/ 86 Great Britain. 886,747 1/62 Great Britain.

25 WILLIAM W. DYER, JR. Primary Examiner. 

1. A DEVICE FOR SUPPORTING A ROLL OF STRIP MATERIAL HAVING AN ADHESIVE ON ONE SIDE THEREOF, AND FOR SEVERING A PIECE OF THE STRIP MATERIAL FROM THE ROLL THEREOF, SAID ROLL HAVING A COAXIAL OPENING THEREIN, COMPRISING: A PAIR OF SUBSTANTIALLY STRAIGHT AND PARALLEL SIDE ELEMENTS SPACED FROM EACH OTHER A DISTANCE SLIGHTLY GREATER THAN THE WIDTH OF THE STRIP MATERIAL, SAID SIDE ELEMENTS BEING SLIGHTLY LONGER THAN THE INITIAL DIAMETER OF SAID ROLL; AN ELONGATED CUTTING MEMBER CONNECTED NEAR ITS OPPOSITE ENDS TO, AND EXTENDING BETWEEN, SAID SIDE ELEMENTS ADJACENT THE FRONT ENDS THEREOF, SAID CUTTING MEMBER BEING SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR TO SAID SIDE ELEMENTS AND HAVING A CUTTING EDGE PARALLEL WITH AND ADJACENT TO THE PLANE DEFINED BY SAID SIDE ELEMENTS; ELONGATED HANDLE MEANS INCLUDING A PAIR OF SPACED AND SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL HANDLE ELEMENTS SUBSTANTIALLY DISPOSED WITHIN SAID PLANE AND EXTENDING BEYOND THE REAR ENDS OF SAID SIDE ELEMENTS A DISTANCE SUBSTANTIALLY GREATER THAN THE DISTANCE BETWEEN SAID HANDLE ELEMENTS, SAID HANDLE ELEMENTS BEING SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL WITH SAID SIDE ELEMENTS; FIRST CONNECTING MEANS EXTENDING BETWEEN THE REAR ENDS OF SAID HANDLE ELEMENTS; SECOND CONNECTING MEANS RIGIDLY SECURED TO AND EXTENDING BETWEEN THE FRONT ENDS OF SAID HANDLE ELEMENTS AND THE REAR ENDS OF SAID SIDE ELEMENTS, SAID FIRST AND SECOND CONNECTING MEANS LYING SUBSTANTIALLY WITHIN SAID PLANE; AND MOUNTING SAID SLIDABLY SUPPORTED UPON SAID SIDE ELEMENTS FOR ENGAGING THE PORTION OF A ROLL OF STRIP MATERIAL ADJACENT SAID OPENING THEREIN, AND SUPPORTING SAID ROLL FOR ROTATION AROUND AN AXIS PARALLEL WITH SAID CUTTING MEMBER AND SUBSTANTIALLY WITHIN PLANE DEFINED BY SAID SIDE ELEMENTS, SAID MOUNTING MEANS BEING MOVABLE WITH SAID ROLL TOWARD AND AWAY FROM SAID CUTTING MEMBER IN A DIRECTION DIAMETRICALLY OF SAID ROLL, SO THAT THE PERIPHERAL SURFACE OF SAID ROLL AT ONE END OF SAID DIAMETER CAN BE CONSTANTLY URGED INTO A POSITION CLOSELY ADJACENT SAID CUTTING MEMBER, SAID MOUNTING MEANS BEING ENGAGED WITH SAID SIDE ELEMENTS AT POINTS SPACED LENGTHWISE THEREOF, WHEREBY THE PARALLEL RELATIONSHIP OF SAID AXIS AND SAID CUTTING EDGE IS POSITIVELY MAINTAINED. 